HAIR INDUSTRY CELEBRATES AS FINALISTS FOR 2023 AUSTRALIAN HAIR INDUSTRY AWARDS (AHIA) CREATIVE ARE ANNOUNCED.

FINALISTS FOR AHIA CREATIVE AWARDS 2023 HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE LARGEST NUMBER OF INDUSTRY JUDGES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

The 2023 Australian Hair Industry Awards- Creative have been judged by 90 of the most diverse and dynamic global industry names to find Australia’s best of the best and this year, 108 worthy Finalists have been named across 18 categories. 
Launched in 2012 by esteemed trade visionaries Mocha Group, the AHIA’s are celebrating their 12th year as the trusted national award platform which provides a benchmark of excellence across both specialist and individual Educational and Business categories and the third year for the Creative categories. The Creative awards platform was born out of a need for Australia’s most inventive hair minds to shine in front of their peers with categories featuring a balance of trends focused photographic collection work and written submissions representative of the exciting talent.

The judging process is crucial to the legitimacy of the awards platform and is taken incredibly seriously. It has always been carried out by using a ranking and preference system by separate judges across photographic and written components, making it impossible for any one judge to knowingly or otherwise influence the judging.

Depending on the number of entrants to a category, judges must assign the ranking from top pick to bottom for all entries in a category and in the event of a draw, the system automatically applies preferences based on all ranking similar to that of a political vote. By assigning this style of judging all judges are on the same page when it comes to assigning rank, as opposed to scores.

Entries this year were judged by 37 International Hair Icons, 14 International Hair Media and 6 Australian Media and Industry Experts including Sally Brooks, Akin Konizi, Angelo Seminara, Sam McKnight, Hooker and Young, Errol Douglas and Vivienne MacKinder, as well as Trade and Consumer Media including Charlotte Grant West, Editor of HJI, Sergi Bancells, Editor of Esthetica and Christina Butcher of Hair Romance. 

The awards will also see the announcement of the much-anticipated HOTSHOTS team for 2023, putting a spotlight on the industry’s most exciting next-gen talent and providing the chance for those 31 and under to take their career to a whole new level.  This crew were judged by 33 Australian Hair icons, who also judged International Hairdresser of the year and included the likes of Dee Parker-Attwood, Jayne Wild, Benni Tognini, Stevie English, Kobi Bokshish, Sharon Blain and Brad Ngata. Hot Shots is proudly sponsored by Joico, EVY Professional, Excellent Edges, Amazing Hair, Wahl Pro and Timely.

“It has been It was a pleasure judging the AHIA Creative once again.  I appreciate mocha group’s efforts to create this very important event that opens the door to lots of new talents and offers motivation to continue the established names in the market.” 
Alexandra Bilisi– Strategic Business Consultant, Owner & Publisher of Hair Trends International Luxury E-Editions, Switzerland.

“What an amazing year so much strong competition. Some amazing talent!“ 
Jonathan Turner, Hooker & Young, UK

Mocha’s Linda Woodhead is thrilled to announce the worthy finalists;
“There is so much hard work and dedication put on the line by all of our entrants, so we are always so proud to have our judging panel review and critique the amazing creativity of our industry. The diverse mix of judges is something that we have long strived for and the commitment each of them shows to supporting the local hair community is second to none. A big thank you to all of them and a huge congratulations to our incredible finalists for 2023.”

The AHIA CREATIVE are sponsored by Revlon Professional, Parlux, Amazing Hair, O&M, Wahl Professional and Silver Bullet and the gala night will be held on the last night of HAIR FESTIVAL over the King’s Birthday long weekend at The Star, Sydney. As always, there will be plenty of surprises in store on the night as the industry celebrates, including a spectacular Opening Showcase and exciting new after party concept hosted by Rogue Beauty. 

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Cailie Willis, Em&Co Hair

Georgina Fardoulis, Toni & Guy Cronulla

Greta Molinaro, Analog Hair

Harper Allen, Jack Horton Hair

Kobi Lee, Flipped Hair

Megan Clarke, Pipsqueek in Saigon

Rebecca Steindl , Barber by Design

Stella Wrigley, Jack Horton Hair

MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR

Bernadette Beswick , Beswick Education Services

Domi Pinalli, Domi Pinalli Hair

Fabian Fuentes, Jack Horton Hair

Harrison Sansom, Stevie English Hair

Shae Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

INDEPENDENT STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Benjamin Martin, Salon XVI

Diane Gorgievski, Koda Cutters

Domi Pinalli, Domi Pinalli Hair

AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

AhKim Anthony Tan, AhKim Art of Hair

Bill Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

Joshua Congreve, Togninis Hair

Jude McEwen, Toni and Guy Perth Central

Louise Blake, Toni&Guy Cronulla

Louise Graham, Hey Hair

Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative

Scott Sheehy, Toni&Guy Newtown

NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR

Anne Russell, Sloans of Lane Cove

Anno Shimizu, Wild Life Hair Origin

Evie Golding, Rokstar Salon

Hayley Warner, Oscar Oscar Salons Carindale

Louise Graham, Hey Hair

Majid Joshan, Dharma

Matt Tronson, The Factory Yarraville

Meghan King, Sloans of North Sydney

Natasha Tsangaris, Luke Reynolds Hairdressing

Tia Wright-Pihama, Toni and Guy Perth Central

CREATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Alchemy Salon

Bach Hair

Flipped Hair

Jack Horton Hair Artistic Team

Noddys On King

Pipsqueek In Saigon

Sloans Creative Team

Toni and Guy Au – Breakthrough Team

Tsiknaris Hair

Wild Life SoGo

COLOUR EXPERT OF THE YEAR

Chris Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

Jack Horton, Jack Horton Hair

Kristie Kesic, Cobelle Creative

Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR

Clint Wallace, Barber by Design

David Metliss , An-Dryer’s Mullet and the Hair Studio

Georgie Bools, Stevie English Hair

Jock Robson, Dharma

Leigh Winsor, OneZeroOne

Lisa Robertson, Pipsqueek in Saigon

Luke Munn, Havachat Barbershop

Naser, Naser Haircuts

BTS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR

For Anne Russell 

Photography: David Mannah. Make-up: Chereine Waddell. Styling: Josie McManus.

For Bernadette Beswick and Stevie English

Photography: Andrew O’Toole. Make-up: Chereine Waddell. Styling: Jessica Jade.

For Jack Horton + Fabian Fuentes

Photography: Amber Toms. Makeup: Ru Blackwell & Rachael Appleyard. Styling: Claudia Williams.

For Justin Pace

Photography:Andrew O’Toole. Make-up: Emma Chaisty. Styling: Melissa Nixon.

For Meghan King. 

Photography: David Mannah. Make-up: Chereine Waddell. Styling: Josie McManus.

For Nathan Yazbek

Photography: Andrew O’Toole. Make-up: Chereine Waddell. Styling: Catherine V.

For Shae Tsiknaris

Photography: Bill Tsiknaris. Make-up: Brooke Stanle.

For Sloans Creative Team

Photography: David Mannah. Make-up: Chereine Waddell. Styling: Josie McManus.

NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Kerri Di Mattia, Dimattia & Co

Leanne Kay, Stevie English Hair

Nathan Yazbek, Salon Yazbek

VIC HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Benjamin Martin, Salon XVI

Bernadette Beswick, Beswick Education Services

Leigh Winsor, OneZeroOne

WA/NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

David Metliss, An-Dryer’s Mullet and the Hair Studio

Naser, Naser Haircuts

QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Andre Faiva, Revolution Hairdressing

Bill Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

Brodie Lee Tsiknaris, Rokstar

Elle Coco, Jack Horton Hair

Fabian Fuentes, Jack Horton Hair

Shae Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

SA/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Lisa Robertson, Pipsqueek in Saigon

Luke Munn, Havachat Barbershop

INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Anne Pacito

Chrystofer Benson

Daniele De Angelis

Emma Simmons

Mark Leeson

Martin Crean

Michelle Pargee

Sawamaru Pokir

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Cobeldick, Buoy Salon and Spa

Ann Marie Young, Jingles Hair Design

Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design

Kylie Hayes, Moha Hairdressing

Michael Beel, Michael Beel Hair

Sara Allsop, Dharma

Shannon Dowd, Zibido Hair

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Bill & Brodie Tsiknaris, B&B Tsiknaris

Cristina Tatasciore, Flipped Hair

Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon

Justin Pace, Co and Pace Salons

Sam James, SJ Establishment

Stephanie Bellairs, Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs

FINALISTS

Anne Russell, Sloans of Lane Cove

Anno Shimizu, Wild Life Hair Origin

Domi Pinalli, Domi Pinalli Hair

Meghan King, Sloans of North Sydney

Mikelah Jayde Riley, Mikelah Jayde Studio

Natasha Tsangaris, Luke Reynolds Hairdressing

Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative